Yuvraj set for longer format

Hyderabad, October 13, 2012, PTI: 22:20 IST

After an inspirational comeback into international cricket since recovering from rare germ cell cancer, Yuvraj Singh will now be back in white flannels as North Zone take on Central Zone in their Duleep Trophy semifinal here at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday.

The match is of greater significance as the four-day contest will provide some indications as to how Yuvraj’s body responds to the rigours of days’ cricket.

While Yuvraj has now started playing Twenty20 Internationals, it is the longer version which will test his stamina as he starts another battle —- to try and cement his place in the Indian Test side.

On the personal front, Yuvraj seems to be enjoying his stay in Hyderabad as he was found tweeting about the city’s famous Paradise restaurant’s biryani.

It will be interesting as to how his body responds in case Central Zone bats for a long period.

However, Yuvraj would hope that pacers Ishant Sharma and Parvinder Awana will ensure that Central Zone batsmen don’t make merry at the Uppal Stadium.

Apart from Yuvraj whose every move will be keenly followed, in-form skipper Shikhar Dhawan will be another batsman to watch out for.

Dhawan who scored a century and a half-century in the quarterfinal against West Zone would like to get another big one against the likes of Praveen Kumar, Rituraj Singh and Piyush Chawla.